Tool for scribing lines on siding



Dec. 10, 1963 W. LURSEN TOOL FOR SCRIBING LINES ON SIDING Filed Nov. 2]., 1961 WERT URJE/V INV EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,113,382 T091 FQR SCREING LINES 6N SIDING Wei-t Lursen, 18th Ave, Freeport, Ill. Filed Nov. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 153,818 2 Clam. (Cl. 33-42) This invention pertains to carpenters tools and more particularly to a tool useful to carpenters for scribing siding to indicate where said siding should be cut.

in the carpentry craft it is frequently necessary to saw or cut siding such as may be applied to a house or an outbuilding. This cut may be simply a cut perpendicular to the edge to cut the board or metal siding to the correct length. It might also be in diagonal cut to the proper slope to fit under a sloping roof at the eaves. It might also be a cut parallel to the edge to provide for an opening in the wall as for a window.

Before my invention it was necessary to use a variety of tools to mark the various types of cuts. \F or instance, a cut to a certain length required a measurement with a tape or by successive positions of a carpenters. square and then the use of a square to mark the transverse out. A diagonal out required a measurement with a tape or square, and then the use of the square in a specialized manner to provide for the slope of the roof. This latter required special skill on the part of the carpenter. The parallel marking could also be done by skilled carpenter using the square or a rule and his thumb.

By my invention it becomes possible for even the unskilled man without special knowledge to scribe the siding for cutting. My invention also does this by the use of only a single simple tool requiring no special skill, instead of the complication involved in proper usage of a carpenters square.

A more complete understanding of my invention in its embodiment may be had from a study of the specification and the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my tool,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale from line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale from line 3--3 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and rotated 90 degrees. 7

Briefly my invention comprises a tool providing the combined function of a measuring tape, a try-square, a scribe and a diagonally adiustable square.

More specifically, and with reference to the figures, my device comprises a fairly long base portion 10. A

body portion I11 is either fixed to or unitarily formed r with the base. The base 19 extends beyond the body 11 in both directions for reasons to be made clear hereinafter.

Extending from the back of the base is a flange 12 adapted to slide along the edge \13 of a piece of siding 14. This siding may be the usual wood siding, or it may be siding formed of aluminum or other material. At its outer extremities, the base is formed with a slot 1'5 below the flange d2 so that the slot is always clear of the siding.

An arm .16 formed with a slot 17 near one end is fastened to the base lit by means of a bolt and wing nut assembly -18. Thus the arm 16 is slidable relative to the bolt and nut assembly (18 along its own length, and can also be moved longitudinally of the base in the slot 1 5. The arm '16 opposite the slotted end is formed with a slightly rounded end 20. This end lies against the edge 21 of the body 11. It will now be apparent that the arm l-fi can be adjustably set at any given slope within a fairly wide range. Once set for any given slope, any number of pieces of siding may be marked for that slope without the use of a carpenters square to determine the slope each time. It will also be apparent that the 3,113,382 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 ice end 20 could be pivotally attached to the body without destroying the usefulness of the device.

I provide an assembly of slotted arm, etc.,. as described, at both ends of the base 10. This is for the purpose of providing scribe lines for slopes in either direction. On any given job, these would probably be set at the same slope provided the roof slopes were uniform, but this would not be necessary.

Alongside the edges 21 of the body pant 11 of my device, I provide flanges 23 lying adjacent to the siding piece 14. The outer edge of each flange is perpendicular to the flange 12 of the base so that a mark scribed along that edge wvill be square with the lower edge of the siding. Thus a line can be scribed for either a sloped or a square cut-off by using either the arm 16 or the flange 23 respectively as a guide.

The proper length of the sliding is also a material matter. Therefore, I provide means to determine this while preparing to scribe the cut-off line. This means includes a metal tape line of the usual type held in a holder on the body II of my device. Specifically, -I provide a bracket 25 fixed to the body 11 of my device and having an arm 26 on which is mounted a spring-loaded plunger 27 (FIG. 2). This plunger is positioned to press the case 2 3 of an ordinary metal tape line toward the body 111. The body is formed with a cavity 29 to receive the case so that the plunger will hold the case in the cavity without undue freedom of motion.

The underside of the body 11 from the cavity 29' to the left edge (in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4) of the body is formed to provide a groove 30' through which the tape 31 may run. Thus this type may extend immediately adjacent the siding piece 14. Therefore, the hook 32 customarily provided on such tapes may be hooked over the end of the siding \14 and the tool slid over to the proper length as measured by the perpendicular edge 23 and the mark scribed. [It will be noted that the length can be read directly at the edge 23 so there will be a minimum of chance for error and no time loss. A similar advantage may be accomplished by reading at the edge of the arm 16 although here a slight allowance may be necessary since the tape is not exactly at the lower edge of the siding and since the arm will be at a slant.

While it is not necessary to the successful operation of my device, I prefer to provide means for holding the tool -to the siding. This means includes clips 34 slidably mounted on rods 35. The rods 35 are fixed to the body 11 as shown and extend over slots 36 formed in the body. The clips 34 include flanges 37 which extend through the slots to engage the upper edge of the siding 14. Tension springs 38 surround the rods 35 and are fastened to the clips 34 to pull them against the edge and thereby hold the tool in place. These springs are not so firm as to make it diflicult to place them nor firm enough to hold the tool so tightly to the siding that it cannot be moved. Rather they just pull the clips down snugly allowing easy sliding of the tool along the siding.

Scribing of a line longitudinally of the sliding is accomplished by means of a device comprising a rod 40 fixed to the body 11. A sliding pencil holder 41 is slidably mounted on the rod. This holder may be held in any adjusted position by means of a thumbscrew 42. The holder is formed with an opening through which an ordinary carpenters pencil 43 may be placed. The opening may be formed of such size that the pencil is held in an adjusted position, or it may be provided with a spring loading to hold the pencil. A slot 44 in the body 1d beneath the pencil and substantially parallel to the edge 23 permits the pencil to be pressed against the sliding 14 to mark it as the tool is moved longitudinally along the piece.

In order to provide for mark at a measured distance from the edge of the siding, I provide a graduated rule 46 on the body 11. A pointer 47 is provided on the holder 41 to provide a position marker. Thus, the holder may readily be set for the desired number of inches or fraction thereof from the edge of the piece at which the mark is to be scribed.

In order to provide for easy carrying of the device and easy handling of the tool in use, I provide a handle 49 which is preferably near the center of gravity of the device. This handle may be :used for carrying or sliding or holding the device in place.

Having thus described my invention in its embodiment I am aware that further and extensive variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For use in scribing a piece of siding having an upper ledge and a lower edge and two ends, a tool comprising an elongated base, said base being formed with a flange adapted to engage said lower edge of said piece, a body extending from said base, said base extending both ways from said body, said body having two edges perpendicular to said flange on said base, arm means movably attached to said base near its extreme points from said body, said arm means being adapted to engage said body near said two edges to form sloping edges, said body being formed with a slot extending substantially parallel to the two edges, pencil means on said body adapted to be adjnstably located within the iength of said slot, said pencil means being thereby engageable with said piece, tape measure means mounted on said body having a tape extending therefrom, said tape extending under at least one of said two edges of said body and under at least one of said sloping edges, said tape having a hooked end adapted to engage an end of said piece whereby the distance of said end from both said sloping edge and said edge of the body can be directly read, and movable means for holding said tool to said piece including clip means slidably mounted on said body, said clip means being formed with flanges adapted to engage the upper edge of said piece, and spring means engaging said ciip means to hold said flanges resiliently against said upper edge.

2. For use in scribing a piece of siding having an upper edge and a lower edge and two ends, a tool comprising a base member adapted to engage one edge of said piece, body means extending from said base member, said base member extending from said body along said one edge, said body having at least one side edge extending substantially perpendicular to said one edge of the piece when said base member is in engagement therewith, arm means mow-ably attached to said base member adapted to engage said body near said side edge to form a sloping edge, said body being formed with a slot extending substantially parallel to said side edge of said body, pencil means on said body adapted to be adjustably located within the length of said slot, said pencil means being thereby engageable with said piece of siding, tape measure means mounted on said body having a tape extending therefrom, said tape having a hooked end adapted to engage an end of said piece whereby the distance from that end to said body can be measured, and movable means for holding said tool to said piece including clip means slidably mounted on said body, said clip means being formed with flanges adapted to engage the upper edge of said piece and spring means engaging said clip means to hold said flanges resiliently against said upper edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 855,185 Keyes May 28, 1907 858,254 Benedict June 25, 1907 1,216,010 Tallakson Feb. 13, 1917 1,249,496 Reveal Dec. 11, 1917 1,445,546 Olson Feb. 13, 1923 2,571,569 Greenwood Oct. 16, 1951 2,731,989 Valcount et a1 Jan. 24, 1956 2,964,848 Gonsalves Dec. 20, 1960 3,015,164 Antell Jan. 2, 1962 

1. FOR USE IN SCRIBING A PIECE OF SIDING HAVING AN UPPER EDGE AND A LOWER EDGE AND TWO ENDS, A TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE, SAID BASE BEING FORMED WITH A FLANGE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID LOWER EDGE OF SAID PIECE, A BODY EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE, SAID BASE EXTENDING BOTH WAYS FROM SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING TWO EDGES PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLANGE ON SAID BASE, ARM MEANS MOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID BASE NEAR ITS EXTREME POINTS FROM SAID BODY, SAID ARM MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID BODY NEAR SAID TWO EDGES TO FORM SLOPING EDGES, SAID BODY BEING FORMED WITH A SLOT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE TWO EDGES, PENCIL MEANS ON SAID BODY ADAPTED TO BE ADJUSTABLY LOCATED WITHIN THE LENGTH OF SAID SLOT, SAID PENCIL MEANS BEING THEREBY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PIECE, TAPE MEASURE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY HAVING A TAPE EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID TAPE EXTENDING UNDER AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TWO EDGES OF SAID BODY AND UNDER AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SLOPING EDGES, SAID TAPE HAVING A HOOKED END ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN END OF SAID PIECE WHEREBY THE DISTANCE OF SAID END FROM BOTH SAID SLOPING EDGE AND SAID EDGE OF THE BODY CAN BE DIRECTLY READ, AND MOVABLE MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID TOOL TO SAID PIECE INCLUDING CLIP MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY, SAID CLIP MEANS BEING FORMED WITH FLANGES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID PIECE, AND SPRING MEANS ENGAGING SAID CLIP MEANS TO HOLD SAID FLANGES RESILIENTLY AGAINST SAID UPPER EDGE. 